I didn't respond.
What could I have said?
Yes, Camila. I know exactly what's going to happen because I read this whole damn story before waking up inside it?
Sure.
Her gaze lingered for a moment longer — intense, searching. Then she clicked her tongue and turned away.
"Whatever."
I exhaled softly, more to myself than to her, and followed in silence.
In front of the base, a small group was already waiting. The ones assigned to eliminate the five advanced-ranked monsters.
Maelys wasn't there — she was staying inside to coordinate the other teams — but the remaining three were present.
Maya was crouched near an open bag, adjusting the string on her bow. She glanced up at us briefly, without a word.
Next to her, Rowan greeted us with a calm nod and an easy smile. He carried no sword or visible weapon — only reinforced gauntlets.
Camila stopped nearby, arms crossed, silent as always.
I scanned each of them quickly, then frowned.
"Isn't someone missing?"
A familiar voice answered from behind, dry and direct:
"Yeah. Me."
I turned around.
Aram Durok.
He approached at a steady pace, his expression focused. He raised his left arm and activated his bracelet.
A thin pulse of mana escaped from his finger, and a translucent hologram burst from the screen, projecting a floating three-dimensional map.
Five red dots blinked across the mountainous terrain, surrounded by fluctuating auras and concentric circles indicating their range of influence.
"Here are our targets," he said calmly.
"Five Advanced-ranked monsters. The closest is five kilometers northeast. The furthest is over twenty-five."
I followed the lines of the projected terrain. Dense forests, crevasses, cliffs… None of these routes were going to be a walk in the park.
Aram pointed at the targets one by one with military precision.
"According to the intel, each of them can wipe out an entire squad if left unchecked. So yeah, it's going to be hell."
He lowered his arm, and the map retracted with a soft hiss.
"As for the plan, we're sticking to the standard structure. Rowan and I will engage directly. Maya, you'll stay at range for support."
He crossed his arms, eyes shifting to Camila.
"Camila, as planned, monitor our status. Step in as soon as we take too much."
Then his gaze landed on me.
"And you, Noah... do what you can. But above all, don't get in the way."
I nodded without protesting.
Honestly, I had no right to complain.
I wasn't even supposed to be part of this team. My inclusion had been a whim. Normally, Seth would've been the fifth member, but he had been eliminated too.
It had surprised a lot of people, but at this point, no one had the luxury to dwell on it.
Aram gave one last look at the sky, then nodded.
"Let's move."
Without another word, we set off.
***
Miles away, in a vast observation hall, dozens of screens displayed real-time scenes from the exam.
The walls were covered in floating monitors, each showing a different group of students engaged in survival, combat, or exploration.
Men and women in official uniforms moved calmly between the rows. Some tapped on touchscreens, taking notes or adjusting camera angles.
Others observed in silence, arms crossed or hands clasped behind their backs.
The atmosphere, though studious, wasn't cold. Occasional murmurs, hushed comments, and light laughter could be heard.
The exam was broadcast across the entire continent — a long-standing tradition. Every year, Eloria's practical exam captivated the public like a national event. But here, in this room, it wasn't just for show.
Here, they were evaluating.
Searching for hidden gems.
Or, conversely… exposing frauds.
In a slightly elevated corner, three examiners sat at a wide curved table, each focused on a holographic screen.
"The first-years are especially strong this time," said the first, a man with graying temples and a calm voice. "I haven't seen this level in a long time."
A woman, elegant with her hair in a tight bun, nodded slowly.
"Indeed. There are so many talents — it's refreshing. Last year was depressingly dull."
The examiner to her right chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Not their fault. Elric Silvaris simply outshone everyone. No other student could possibly stand out beside him."
On one of the screens before them, a figure drew their attention: a breathtaking girl with pastel-pink hair, a glowing star-shaped tattoo on the side of her neck.
She was sitting atop a massive violet dragon with shimmering scales, flying lazily above the island as if it felt no urgency.
The girl's expression was blank — almost bored.
One of the examiners smiled, amused.
"Emma Bennet," he said, as if savoring the name.
"As expected from the daughter of Jane Bennet, member of the High Council. She's extremely gifted for her age."
"And," the woman added, briefly checking another interface, "having a dragon as a familiar at that age is more than surprising. Mythical beasts choose their masters. It's not something you can force."
"An ancient spirit like that, bonded to a first-year student..." murmured the third examiner, who had been silent until now, "...that's rare. Very rare."
"She and Charlotte Ilberg are in the same class," the woman noted after a pause. "It's almost unfair to the others."
"Charlotte is no slouch either," one of the men added.
"She received the blessing of the Water Spirit. Who can boast such a feat at her age?"
The main screen suddenly shifted.
Charlotte appeared on screen, smiling, walking beside a boy with platinum-blond hair, stunningly handsome, with warm caramel eyes.
At the sight of him, the three examiners straightened slightly, their expressions growing noticeably more serious.
"...Probably the biggest surprise of the year."
Silence settled briefly, as if all three were taking their time to truly look at him.
Liam Ashford.
He hadn't gone unnoticed. Not with what he had shown.
In truth, he had drawn attention from the highest levels during the entrance exam.
Mastering five elements… it was unheard of in the academy's entire history.
Even in the oldest archives, there was no such case.
"The word 'genius' doesn't quite suit him," one of the examiners muttered.
"That kid is something else entirely."
"And that's not all," the woman added.
"His talent isn't limited to magic. His martial arts… that fencing style — it's beauty and mystery incarnate. Every move is pure, calculated, almost too perfect for someone his age."
Without a doubt, he was the new star among the first-years.
And this monster… was in Lyra class, too.
The same as Charlotte.
The same as Emma.
"At this point," one of them sighed, "you can't help but feel bad for the rest."
The female examiner pressed her fingers to her temples, thoughtful.
"The strangest part is… Liam Ashford doesn't come from any notable background. Reports say he grew up in an orphanage in Grelin City."
The examiner to her right smiled faintly.
"That's often the mark of those who rewrite history."
"And yet," the third interjected with certainty, "Orion class isn't lacking either."
The other two turned to him.
"Maelys Starfall is a genius in her own right," he continued, his tone respectful.
"Honestly, in a direct fight, she'd probably beat Charlotte… and even Emma. Just barely, but still."
The woman raised an eyebrow, surprised, but didn't argue.
"The Starfall family's spear style is unmatched," she added after a moment.
The main screen split in two, and on the right half appeared Maelys. She was meditating, eyes closed, back perfectly straight, her long spear resting on her knees.
Her aura — stable, threatening — radiated around her like a cold fire ready to erupt.
"And she's got Rowan Valen in her squad," the woman added with a light smile.
"A quiet genius," the graying examiner remarked.
"His hand-to-hand combat style is unorthodox. He's blended several martial schools into something new."
"And don't forget Aram Durok," said the third.
"Some say his bloodline helped him reach this level, but that's wrong. That kid's discipline and work ethic surpass most students his age."
"He's methodical," the woman agreed. "His strategic thinking is unusually mature for someone so young."
A silence settled between them, filled with a mix of fascination and caution.
Then one of them whispered, almost reverently:
"...This truly is a blessed generation."